Rachel McInerney of Nouvel Catholic Central goes up for two of her game-high 16 points against Houghton. The Panthers won 44-32 to advance to the Class C state championship against Manchester. (Rachel Sonnenshine | MLive.com)

(McInerney has averaged 16 points and 13.5 rebounds during seven postseason games for Nouvel.)

EAST LANSING, MI — Nouvel Catholic Central played its biggest game of the season on Thursday, March 14 in the Class C state semifinals against Houghton.

And the Panthers needed a big game from their biggest player.

Rachel McInerney, 6-foot-2, has been a player possessed during Nouvel’s postseason run and turned it up a notch against the Gremlins with 16 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks, leading the Panthers to a 44-32 win.

“I’m so excited,” McInerney said. “I can’t put it into words. I just played on the Breslin Center floor. I can’t believe it.”

She’s heading back to the Breslin on Saturday, March 16 for a Class C state championship showdown against Manchester at 4 p.m.

Nouvel will need McInerney’s biggest game yet, but if the tournament has been any indication, she’ll be ready.

Only a junior, McInerney has played beyond her years. In seven postseason games, she’s averaged 16 points and 13.5 rebounds a game for the Panthers. And she’s anted up by averaging five blocks in each of the last three games.

During the district and regional tournaments, McInerney faced off individually against All-State center and Central Michigan commit Karli Herrington of Hemlock, All-State honorable mention center Sam Shafer of Valley Lutheran and Reese’s All-State sophomore Reyna Frost — and she beat them all.

“Karli Herrington was a great player,” McInerney said. “I’m not used to playing against players that are taller than me, so that was a change, and Sam Shafer is a great player. I guess it gives me confidence knowing that I can hang with them, that I can be as good as them or even better.”

That confidence and skill began long before the season.

“Rachel worked very hard all summer,” Hengesbach said. “That’s why I coach, I guess, to see that growth. It’s very rewarding.”

“Coming off last year and losing in the quarterfinals, Taylor (Hengesbach) and I talk all the time that we have to come back,” McInerney said. “We have to make it all the way. Our goal is always to win a stage championship.”

It would be Nouvel’s first since winning back-to-back championships in the 2006 and 2008 seasons.

But first the Panthers face off against a 26-2 Manchester team that advanced to the championship by downing Riverview Gabriel Richard 53-46 in the other semifinal.

As always, McInerney will be key.

“She’s worked her tail off, and she’s being rewarded for it,” Hengesbach said. “I love her confidence. She’s a team player, and I’m so happy for her. It’s all hard work, effort and desire.”